Automatic stop for power-driven player mechanisms.



F. C. WHITE. AUTOMATIC STOP FOR POWER DRIVENYPLAYER MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28. 1914.

PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

Wu F v COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON. n C.

COMPANY, OF MERIDEN,

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR POWER- OFFICE.

DRIVEN PLAYER MECHANISMS.=

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application filed November 28, 1914. Serial No. 874,370.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK 0. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meriden, New Haven county, State of Connecticut, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stops for Power-Driven Player Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

My invention relates to an improved auto matic stop device for use in connection with power driven piano playing mechanism, the object being to provide an effective means whereby when" the note sheet has been fully re-rolled, the apparatus will automatically op- E 'In the drawings; Figure 1 is a diagram matic' view showing conventionally, such parts as are essential to a full understanding of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing certain parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of certain parts.

1 conventionally represents what is known as the action chest of a player mechanism.

2 represents the 'exhauster.

3 represents an electric driving motor suitably connected to the exhauster to operate the latter.

4 is a battery electrically connectedby a suitable circuit to the motor 3. 5 is a switch in said motor circuit.

6 represents a wind motor operated by the exhauster 2 with which it is suitably connected. This wind motor is connected with the music roll mechanism which comprises a Winding spool 7, and an arbor 8 upon which a music roll 9 may be detachabl-y mounted in theuusual' way. As shown in Fig. 3, suitable reversing gear and clutch mechanism, indicated" at 10, is provided, whereby the motor 6 may be used to revolve the spool 7 in a'directionto wind the note sheet 11 thereon; or may-revolve the arbor 8 in the direction to re-roll the notesheet 11.

12 is the tracker-board provided with the usual holes for the admission of air to the action" mechanism.

14 is a normally distend'ed'power pneumatic,-the function of which: is to move the switch 5 to open the motor circuit and stop the'driving motor 3.

The music winding spool 7 is provided with a deep notch or annular groove 15. 6 is one arm of a-bell-crank lever, which is pivoted at 17. The arm 16 faces the notch 15 so that when there is no note sheet winding on the spool 7, the said arm'16 may drop into-the notch 15 (see Fig. 2). hen, however, a note sheet is wound around the spool 7, it will support the arm 16 and act as a barrier to hold it out of the notch 15 (see' Fig. 1

18 is the second arm of the aforesaid bellcrank lever, the said arm carrying a link 19 hi h is preferably slid'ably connected with a valve 20, which normally closes the end of duct 13 (see Fig; 1). 21,22, and 23 are-adjustable buttons or nuts on'th'e link 19 to facilitate the proper operation of said parts.

24 is a spring'connected at one end to the bell-crank arm 18, and connected at its other end to a bell-crank 25 pivoted at 26.

27 is a linkconnectingthe"bell-crank 25 with an operating lever 28.

The valve 20 is preferably in the form of a spring which normally'moves in a direction toclose the duct 13.- This duct 13 leads to the usual primary pneumatic i (notshown) in boX 30, which primary pneum'aticw'hen flushed puts the power pneumatic 14 in direct communication with the interior of the eXh'aus'ter '2, so that said power pneumatic=14 will be thereby collapsed to throw off the switch 5 and open the motor circuit. hen, however, the valve20 is closed, the power pneumatic 141- will be distended (see Fig. 1). Assuming it is desired to start the player mechanism, a. music roll 9 is put in place, as shown in Fig. 2, and the end of the note sheet is manually placed connected to the winding spool 7 in the usual way. The'lever 28 is then swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to thatshown in Fig. 1, which act permits the valv'ei'20 to close. When the switch 5 is then moved to close the motor circuit, the motor starts and the exhauster 2* is operated and the wind motor 6 begins to operate, revolving the winding spool 7 in a direction to wind the note sheet thereon, whereupon the instrument wilF play in the usual manner. WVhen' the composition has been finished, it shift the lever 28 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. This actreis merely necessary to verses the music roll mechanism (the lever 28 being preferably connected to the reversing clutch 10, as by a link 29), and swings the bellcrank 25 in a direction to put the spring 24: under substantial tension. The driving motor 3 continuing to revolve, and the wind motor 6 continuing to operate, will now rewind the note sheet 11 on its roll 9. This rewinding ,of the note sheet will continue so long as part of the sheet 11 continues to act as a barrier to the notch 15 in the spool. 7. When, however, the end of the note sheet uncovers said notch, the strain of the spring 24 will not only cause the bellcrank lever end 16 to drop into the notch 15, but the strain ofsaid spring will be suflicient to overbalance the spring valve 20, so as to open it, as shown in Fig. 2, and vent the duct 13 so as to cause the power pneumatic 1 1 to be put in communication with the eXhauster 2, whereupon said pneumatic 14 will be collapsed and will automatically throw off the switch 5 as shown in Fig. 2, thus opening the motor circuit and causing the driving motor 3 and player mechanism to stop.

Any suitable means may be provided for holding the lever 28 in either one of its two opposite positions, one simple expedient being a notched segment, as indicated at 28, the lever being shown in one notch in Fig. 1 and in the other notch in Fig. 2. By this means the lever is mechanically held in each of its two operative positions against the tension of the spring 24.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic power-driven mechanical player mechanism, an exhauster, an electric motor for driving said exhauster, an electric motor circuit, a switch therein, music-roll mechanism, a wind motor for driving the same, said wind motor being in communication with said exhauster, said music-roll mechanism including a winding spool, a driving connection between said wind motor and winding spool, reversing means therefor, a power -pneumatic arranged to cooperate with said circuit switch to throw off the same, with means for automatically putting said power-pneumatic in communication with said exhauster when I the winding spool is empty.

2. In an automatic power-driven mechanical player mechanism, an exhauster, an electric motor for driving said eXhauster, an electric motor circuit, a switch therein, music-roll mechanism, a wind motor for driving the same, said wind motor being in communication with said exhauster, said music-roll mechanism including a winding spool, a driving connection between said wind motor and winding spool, reversing means therefor, a power-pneumatic arranged to cooperate with said circuit switch to throw off the same,,with means for automatically putting said power-pneumatic in communication with said exhauster when the winding spool is empty, comprising a duct leading to said power-pneumatic, said power-pneumatic being distended when said duct is closed, a yielding valve to normally close said duct, and means for automatically opening said valve, comprising a movable member arranged adjacent to said winding spool, a notch in that part of the winding spool arranged to carry a note-sheet and in front of said movable member, a movable lever connected with said reversing means and with said movable member through the medium of a spring, said movable member being arranged to vary the tension of said spring, a connection between said movable member and said valve, the tension of said spring being sufficient to overbalance the resistance of said yielding valve when said lever is in one position, whereby when the winding spool is empty the movable member may drop into said notch and permit said spring to open said valve, whereby said power-pneumatic will be collapsed to throw off said switch.

3. In an automatic power-driven player mechanism, an action chest, a wind motor, an exhauster in communication with both the wind motor and action chest, an electric motor for driving said eXhauster, an electric motor circuit and a switch therefor, musicroll mechanism including a tracker and a note sheet winding spool and spindle, a driving connection between said motor and said spindle, reversing means therefor, a deep notch in the face of the winding spool and in that part thereof designed to be covered by a note-sheet when the player is in operation, a movable member adjacent to said notch and arranged to project therein when note-sheet has been withdrawn from over the notch on said winding spool, a movable operating lever connected with said reversing means and having a playing position, and a re-roll position, a spring connection between said movable member and lever, 11. switch-operating power-pneumatic, a connection from said power-pneumatic to said exhauster, said connection being normall closed and said power-pneumatic distend with means controlled by said movable member for putting said power-pneumatic in operative communication with said exhauster to cause the collapse of said pneumatic to throw said switch, open the motor circuit and stop the motor.

4. In an automatic power-driven player mechanism, an action chest, a wind motor, an exhauster in communication with both the wind motor and action chest, an electric motor for driving said exhauster, an electric motor circuit and a switch therefor, musicroll mechanism including a tracker and a note-sheet winding spool and spindle, a

driving connection between said spindle, reversing means therefor, a deep notch in the face of the winding spool and in that part thereof designed to be covered by a note-sheet when the player is in operation, a movable member adjacent to said notch and arranged to project therein when a note-sheet has been withdrawn from over the notch on said winding spool, a movable operating lever connected with said reversing means and having a playing position, and a re-roll position, a spring connection between said movable member and lever, a switch-operating power-pneumatic, a connection from said'power-pneumatic to said eXhauster, said connection being normally closed and said power-pneumatic distended, with means controlled by said movable member for putting said power-pneumatic in operative communication with said eXhauster to cause the collapse of said pneumatic to throw said switch, open the motor circuit and stop the motor, said lever being movable to a position to relieve the tension on the spring connection between it and said movable member when said lever stands in the playing position.

5. In an automatic power-driven player mechanism, an exhauster, an electric driving motor, a motor circuit and a switch therefor, a switch-operating power-pneumatic normally distended, a connection from said Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

said motor and power-pneumatic to said exhauster, said connection being normally closed, music winding mechanism including a winding spool and a winding arbor, a wind motor operated by said exhauster to drive said spool and arbor, a connection between said motor and said spool and arbor, means for reversing the direction of drive of said spool and arbor, means for putting said powerpneumatic in communication with said eX- hauster when said winding spool is empty, including a lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the peripheral face of that part of the roll arranged to be covered by a notesheet, a deep notch in that part of the roll adjacent to said lever, a reversing lever for said reversing means, a spring connection between said lever and said manually movable device, a controlling valve springpressed so as to be normally closed, a connection between said valve and said lever, the tension of the spring connection between said manually operable member and said lever being insuflicient to overcome the tension of the valve when said lever is in one position and being suflicient to overbalance the tension of said valve when said lever is in another position.

FRANK C. WHITE. Witnesses:

A. G. KUHNLE, E. M. GRIsWoLD.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. (1. 

